The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi is not taking part in regionally brokered talks aimed at ending the rebel assault on the key eastern city of Goma, state media has reported.

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has vowed “a vigorous and coordinated response” against a rebel alliance that has besieged swaths of the nation’s mineral-rich east and forced hundreds of local troops and foreign mercenaries to surrender.

DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi said on Thursday that his troops were mounting a military response as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters advanced in the east of the country.

President Félix Tshisekedi has sent a strong message to Rwandan President Paul Kagame after skipping President William Ruto’s East African Community (EAC) virtual crisis meeting. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi addressed Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame,

The president of crisis-hit Democratic Republic of Congo was set to meet his Rwandan counterpart at an emergency summit on Wednesday, as fighters backed by Kigali appeared on the brink of seizing the key city of Goma.

The president of crisis-hit Democratic Republic of Congo was set to meet his Rwandan counterpart at an emergency summit on Wednesday, as fighters backed by Kigali appeared on the brink of seizing the key city of Goma.

In April 2022, EAC leaders met in Nairobi, Kenya, and agreed to establish a regional force to be deployed in eastern DRC to facilitate dialogue between the warring parties. While the DRC government and the rebels agreed to a ceasefire, tensions persisted.

Some people welcomed a TV address by President Félix Tshisekedi during which he called for a massive military mobilisation.

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group vowed Thursday to "continue the march of liberation" to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa, as its fighters made further advances in the mineral-rich east of the country.

Hundreds of protestors in the Himbi neighbourhood of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, on Friday, January 31, called for the removal of Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi as well as the exit of troops from Burundi and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from their country.

Hundreds of protestors in the Himbi neighbourhood of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, on Friday, January 31, called for the removal of Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi as well as the exit of troops from Burundi and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from their country.